PITTSBURGH - The 2012-13 University of Pittsburgh women's basketball schedule was officially released on Thursday as the Big East Conference unveiled its full slate.

The Panthers' schedule features 14 contests against opponents that advanced to the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship or Postseason WNIT last season.

"This is an extremely challenging schedule," said head coach Agnus Berenato, who begins her 10th season at Pitt this season. "Our players learned a lot about themselves and the league last year. The Big East schedule offers a difficult test each night. I am excited to watch our young team compete and battle day-in and day-out."

Pitt will play a 16-game Big East regular season schedule and will face each of the 14 possible league opponents once and two opponents twice during the regular season.

The Panthers' road opponents include four teams who competed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament: St. John's (Jan. 16), Louisville (Feb. 9), Connecticut (Feb. 26) and Rutgers (March 4). Pitt begins Big East play at Seton Hall on Jan. 5 and will travel to future ACC-foe Syracuse on Feb. 16. The Syracuse contest will be televised as the Big East Network (BETV) Game of the Week.

The 2013 Big East Championship will be held March 8-12 at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.

Pitt opens its 2012-13 ledger at the Petersen Events Center for the fourth consecutive season and plays seven-straight home games before its first road contest. The Panthers host Lock Haven in an exhibition match-up on Saturday, Nov. 3. In total, Pitt takes on nine non-conference opponents at home.

The season officially tips off with the fourth-annual School Day on Friday, Nov. 9 versus Youngstown State. The annual event attracts hundreds of local elementary and middle school students for a day of basketball and education. The Panthers' home schedule in November also includes games against William & Mary (Nov. 11), Siena (Nov. 13), Wagner (Nov. 20), Brown (Nov. 24) and Longwood (Nov. 26).

Pitt will travel on consecutive weekends, opening December with a trip to Lafayette on Dec. 1 and across town to rival Duquesne on Dec. 8. Sandwiched in between those dates is a home contest with Loyola (MD) on Wednesday, Dec. 5.

The Panthers also will host Rider (Dec. 16) and Mount St. Mary's (Dec. 20). The non-conference schedule concludes with a pair of road contests versus Buffalo (Dec. 29) and Old Dominion (Jan. 2).

Pitt, which officially begins practice on Oct. 1, will participate with the men's basketball team in an outdoor Midnight Madness event on Friday, Oct. 12 at 9:45 p.m. at the Cathedral of Learning. The weekend also marks Homecoming and the University's 225th Anniversary celebration.

Season tickets are currently on sale, more information can be found here. Season ticket holders receive special benefits, including a meet and greet with the team, an opportunity to be a guest coach, and an invitation to a pregame `chalk talk' with Coach Berenato. Pitt and UPMC Faculty and Staff are admitted free with a valid University of Pittsburgh ID. A four-game mini package is also available with a choice to pick any four games for just $20. Call 412-648-PITT (7488) for more ticket information.

Pitt returns four starters, its three top scorers and eight letterwinners.